Ironing machines



A. E. LEISENRING I IRONING MACHINES Jan. 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed on. 8. 1956 IN VEN TOR.

- gnaw/Er A. E. LEISENRING IRONING MACHINES -Jan.2s,195s' Filed Oct. 8. 1956.

2 Sheets$heet 2 atenr Patented Jan. 28, 1958 fice IRONING MACHINES Arthur Edwin Leisenring, Denver, Colo.

Application October 8, 1956, Serial No. 614,664

4 Claims. (Cl. 38-58) .This'invention relates to a fiatwork ironing machine mangle for laundries of the type illustrated and described in applicants prior Patent No. 2,584,598, and has for its principal object the provision of a relatively simple, ,highly eflicient ironing machine for ironing the entire =area of exceedingly large pieces, such as bed sheets, 2 spreads, and the like, which will iron the full width and length of the sheet by a single pass through the machine, and which will accomplish highly eflicient results with 'the use, of a' single press roll and iron so as to eliminate .the cost, weight and upkeep of the multiple press rolls and .ironsusually required.

'Another object of the invention is to so construct the machine that it may be safely and efficiently operated by relatively unskilled operators.

.Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, veconomy, and efficiency. These will become more ap .parent from the following description.

In the following detailed description, of'the invention, -reference is had to the accompanying drawing which .forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In .the .drawing:

Fig. lis a front view of the improved ironing ma- ,chine in: the closed or operating position, with portions 1 brokenaway to reduce the length thereof for illustrative ;.pu rposes;

Fig. 2 is a view of the right end of the improved ironing machine, illustrating it in the released or open position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, illustrating the machine in .the closed position of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the upper portion of the .improved machine, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. l.

.The mechanism of the improved ironing machine is .supported by two end frames, each end frame consists of a substantially vertical front leg and a substantially vertical rearleg 11 fixedly connected together at their upper portions by means of an end frame plate 12 and at-their lower extremities by means of a horizontal base angle 13. The two end frames are maintained in fixed, vertical, spaced-apart relation by means of base rods 14 .extending between the base angles 13 and by means of a heater box 22 secured to and extending between the end. frame plates 12.

. A stub shaft 15 is supported on and projects outwardly from the end frame plate 12 at the right extremity of the machineandasimilar stubshaft 16 is similarly mounted on and projects outwardly from the end plate 12 at the left extremity of the machine. The stub shafts 15 and 16 are positioned in axial alignment with. each other and the outer extremity of the right stub shaft 15 is braced and supported by means of an angle, bearing brace 62.

a A- reciprocally. rotatable bearing-plate 17 is pivotally .mounted on each of the stub shafts 15 .and-16 by means 'ofsanyfsuitable bearing structuresothatthe .two.bearing 'gplatcs maybe rotated in parallelplanes. Axpress 'roll shaft 18 extends between and is journalled' in suitable bearings 19 in the two bearing plates 17 and projects outwardly therefrom at each extremity of the machine. The bearings 19 are slidably mounted in the bearing plates 17 and are constantly and resiliently urged rearwardly in the plates by means of suitable cushion springs 66, the reaction ofwhich may be regulated by means of spring adjustment screws 67 as shown in applicants prior Patent No. 2,384,598. A press roll 20 covered with laminatedfabric is concentrically mounted on the press rollshaft 18 between the end frame structures.v

An elongated, transversely-concaved ironing member 21 is supported between the end frame plates 12 and forms .the' front face of the heater box 22. The ironing member 21 is sopositioned between the end frame plates that, when the bearing plates 17 are rotated rearwardly,

.on their pivots as shown in Fig. 3, the cylindrical surface of thepress roll 20 will fit into and lie within the arcuate concavity of the ironing member 21, as shown in Fig. 4.

The bearing plates 17 vare reciprocally rotated forwardly and'rearwardly by means of two pairs of toggle links there beinga similar pairof toggle links at each extremity of .the machine. Each pair of toggle links comprises an upper toggle link 23 which extends from a hinged connection 25 on the adjacent bearing plate 17 .to a toggle link bolt26 which hingedly connects itto the extremity of a toggle lever 24. The toggle levers'24 are both fixedly mounted in alignment with each other on a toggle shaft 27 which is rotatably supported on the two rear. legs ll-and extends therebetween.

The toggle link shaft 27 is reciprocally rotated through the medium of a foot lever 28which is formed integrally with an upstanding link-actuating lever 29 from the upper extremity of which a connecting link 30 extends to the .toggle link bolt 26 at the right extremity of the machine.

The foot lever 28 is pivotally mounted on a suitably supported lever pivot pin 31 and extends forwardly, terminating in a suitable foot treadle 32. The foot lever 28 is constantly urged upwardly by means of a tension spring 33, suspended from a spring stud 34 which projects from the front leg 10 at the right of the machine so as so break or misalign the toggle links 23 and 24 so as to swing the press roll 20 forwardly as shown in Fig. 2.

It can be seen that if the foot treadle 32 be depressed toward the closed position, the actuating lever 29 will act through the connecting link 30 to rotate the toggle shaft 27 forwardly to force the toggle links 23 and 24 toward their aligned position so as the links approach their aligned positions, as shown in Fig. 3, the press roll 20 will be forced into the concavity of the ironing member 21, as shown in Fig. 4.

The foot lever 28 will be locked in the fully closed position by means of a hook-shaped locking dog 36 which engages over a locking stud 35 on the foot lever, when the latter is fully depressed, as shown in Fig. 3. The locking dog 36 is pivotally mounted on the base angle 13 upon a suitable dog pivot 37 and is constantly urged rearwardly toward the locking position by means of a suitable dog spring 38. Thus, it can be seen that when the foot treadle 32 is fully depressed, the dog 36 will snap over the stud 35 to maintain the treadle depressed and to maintain the press roll 20 resiliently against the ironing member 21 under the pressure of the cushion springs 65.

The locking dog 36 can be released at any time by forcing a release plate 39 rearwardly. The release plate 39 is fixedly mounted on and extends substantially the entire length of a horizontally-positioned release shaft 40 which is supported in suitable bracket members 41 above the press roll 20. A crank lever 42 is fixed to and projects rearwardly from adjacent the right-extremity oftherelease shaft 46. The crank lever 42 is connected by meansof aconnecting' rod 43 with one extremity of-a bell crank lever 44 which is tiltably mounted on a lever pin 45 on the right base angle 13. The bell crank lever 44 is formed with an upwardly extending leg 46 positioned to swing against-thereari face of the locking dog 36'to force it forwardly from the stud 35 to release the foot lever 28. t

The press'roll 20 is rotated through the. medium of an electric motor 47 which isrmounted on a sliding motor carriage 48. The motor carriage 48 is slidably mounted upon slide rods 49 supported from the base rods 14. The shaft of the 'motor 47.is provided witha variable-pitch V-belt pulley 53 fromtwhich a Vabelt 52 extends to a drive pulley 50 of a conventional speed reducer 51 which delivers power at reduced speed to a drive sprocket 59.

Variable pitch pulleys of the. desired type are available on the market and are so constructed that as thetension on the belt increases, the pitch diameter of the drive pulley decreases. The belt tensioncan be controlled on the present machine through the medium of a speed-control lever 54 which is pivotally supported at 55 upon the right front leg and which is connected at its lower extremity by means of a connecting rod 56 with the motor carriage 48. The speed control lever 54 can be setin any desired one of a plurality of lever-receiving notches 57 in a sector member 58 mounted on the leg 10.

The power is transmitted from the drive sprocket 59, through the medium of a transmission chain 61 to a first relatively large idler sprocket 60 on the right stub shaft 15. A second smaller idler sprocket 63 is concentrically aflixed to the first idler sprocket 60 from which a second transmission chain 65 extends about a roll sprocket 64 aflixed upon the projecting extremity of the roll shaft 18.

The swinging movements of the bearing plates 17 are cushioned by means of a suitable shock absorber 68 which is connected between a shock absorber arm 69, formed on the bearing plate 17 and a shock absorber bracket 76 mounted on the leg 10. Only one shock absorber 68 has been illustrated. A similar shock absorber could be similarly mounted at the opposite extremity of the machine.

The ironing member 21 may be heated in any desired manner. It is preferably heated by means of gas burners 70 positioned within the heater box 22. Gas is supplied to the burners through a suitable gas conduit 71 through a thermostatic control valve 72 and through a suitable air mixer 73, the fuel supply to the box being at the midpoint thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the gas will flow in both directions to the burners 70 so as to equalize the pressure thereon.

An arcuate feed screen table 74 is supported above the press roll 20 between the end frame structures and a screened article-receiving tray 75 is supported between the end frame structures below the press roll 20.

It is believed the operationof the improved ironing machine can be clearly understood from the above description. Briefly, let usassume that the motor 47 and the gas burners 70 are operating and that the ironing member 21 is at the proper temperature. The entering edge of a sheet is spread over the feed screen table 74 and is smoothly forced onto the rearwardly rotating press roll 20 so that the entering edge of the sheet is carried toward the ironing member 21. When the entering edge has moved rearwardly a proper distance, the foot treadle 32 is depressed to clamp the edge of the sheet between the press roll 20 and the ironing member 21. Rotation of the roll causes the sheet to move smoothly over the table 74 and downwardly between the press roll and the heated ironing member and discharges it to the hands of the operator below the press roll. The tray 75 protects the sheet from accidental contacts.

I When in continuous use, the treadle 32 may remain depressed and the sheets may be fed continuously over the press roll 20, the trailing edge of each sheet serving as .a guide for the enteringedge of the succeedingrsheet.w

Should difiiculties occur or should there be an interrup tion in the supply of sheets, it is only necessary for the operator to depress the release plate 39, which will allow the spring 33 to immediately break the toggle links 23 and 24 and swing the press roll forwardly to the released position of Fig. 1.

During the operation, the speed of travel of the sheet against the ironing member 21 can be controlled to obtain the most efficient ironing results by simply changing the angular position of the speed control lever 54 in its sector member 58;

The machine, of course, will be provided with the usual electrical switch arrangements for starting and stopping the motor 47.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirito'f the invention. I

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An ironing machine comprising: two spaced-apart end frame structures; an end frame plate in each end frame structure; a heater box supported by and extending between said end frame plates adjacent the upper extremities thereof; an arcuately concave ironing member forming the forward face of said heater box; a stub shaft projecting-outwardly from the end plate of each end frame structure; a rotatable bearing plate pivotally mounted on each stub shaft; a press roll shaft journalled in and extending between said bearing plates above and in spaced relation to the adjacent stub shaft; a press roll mounted on said press roll shaft; meansfor heating said ironing membenmeans for rotating said press roll; a toggle shaft journalled in and extending between said end frame structures; a toggle lever mounted on and extending from said toggle shaft adjacent each extremity therer of; a toggle link hingedly secured to each toggle lever and extending to a pivotal connection on one of said bear-' ing plates; a foot lever pivotally mounted on'one end frame member and extending forwardly-therefrom; an

actuating lever rigidly connected with said foot lever and extending upwardly therefrom; a connecting link connecting'said actuating lever with the connecting point of one of said toggle levers and its connected toggle link so that when said foot lever is depressed, said toggle shafts will be rotated to cause both toggle levers to approach alignment with their respective links to cause said press roll to enter the concavity of said ironing member; and spring means urging said foot lever upwardly.

2. An ironing machine as described in claim 1 having a locking stud projecting from said foot lever; a hingedly mounted, hook-shaped locking dog positioned to swing over said locking stud when said foot lever is depressed to lock the latter in the depressed position; spring means urging said dog into locking engagement; a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted on one of said frame members; a vertical leg positioned to swing against said locking dog to force the latter out of engagement with said looking stud; a release plate swingingly mounted between said end frame structures above said press roll; a crank lever projecting from said release plate; and a connecting rod connecting said crank lever to said bell-crank lever so that when said release plate is swung, said bell-crank lever will force said dog out of engagement with said stud.

3. An ironing machine comprising: two spaced-apart end frame structures; an end frame plate in'each end frame structure; a heater box supported by and extending between saidend frame plates adjacent the upper extremities thereof; an arcuately concave ironing member forming the forward face of said heater box; a. stub shaft projecting outwardly from the end plate of each end frame structure; a rotatable bearing plate pivotally mounted on each stub shaft; a press roll shaft journalled in and extending-between said-bearing plates above and in spaced relation to the adjacent stub shaft; a press roll mounted on said press roll shaft; means for heating said ironing member; means for reciprocally and simultaneously swinging said bearing plates to cause said press roll to enter the concavity of said ironing member; a relatively large idler sprocket carried by one of said stub shafts; a relatively small idler sprocket concentrically afl'ixed to said large idler sprocket; a driven sprocket mounted on said press roll shaft; a transmission chain extending from the smaller idler sprocket to the driven sprocket on the press roll shaft; a speed reducing mechanism; a drive sprocket operated by said speed reducing mechanism; a second transmission chain extending from said latter drive sprocket to the larger idler sprocket for rotating the latter; a relatively large V-belt pulley on said speed reducing mechanism; a motor; a relatively small, variable-pitch V-belt pulley on said motor; a V-belt extending round said V-belt pulleys; means for moving said motor toward and away from said speed reducer to cause said variable-pitch pulley to vary the ratio of speed transmitted, said latter means comprising: a carriage upon which said motor is mounted; slide rods slidably supporting said carriage; a speed control lever; and a connecting rod between said speed control lever and said carriage so that angular movement of said speed control lever will move said carriage along said slide rods.

4. In an ironing machine of the type having a press roll adapted to swing into and out of engagement with a concavity in an ironing member, and having'a power transmission device adapted to rotate about the axis of swing of said ironing member, with means for transmitting power from said device to said press roll, means for driving said power device comprising: a speed reducing mechanism; means for transmitting power from said reducing mechanism to said power device; a relatively large V-belt pulley on said speed reducing mechanism; a motor; a relatively small, variable-pitch V-belt pulley on said motor; a V-belt extending round said V-belt pulleys; a carriage upon which said motor is mounted; slide rods slidably supporting said carriage; a speed control lever; and a connecting rod between said speed control lever and said carriage so that angular movement of said speed control lever will move said carriage along said slide rods to move said motor toward and away from said speed reducer to cause said variable-pitch pulley to vary the ratio of speed transmitted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,463,835 Patton et a1 Aug. 7, 1923 1,600,211 Benjamin Sept. 21, 1926 1,691,267 Clisson Nov. 13, 1928 2,252,471 Pointon Aug. 12, 1941 2,584,598 Leisenring Feb. 5, 1952 2,657,483 Zwaard Nov. 3, 1953 

